Pilot David Jardine dies after light plane crash at Luskintyre near Maitland

He had the fight of his life to survive but sadly an experienced aviator who crashed landed his light plane at Maitland last year has died. Read the details.

The scene in October, 2022 when Mr Jardine’s plane crashed. Picture: 9 NEWS

An experienced aviator who miraculously steered a light plane away from homes before it crashed and burst into flames has lost the fight for his life after succumbing to “extensive” burns.

Surrounded by family, former RAAF member David Jardine died on Christmas Eve after spending 10 weeks in the ICU at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.

The news of his passing was posted in a video by CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Benjamin Morgan on the association’s Facebook page, which said unfortunately the 48-year-old couldn’t overcome his injuries.

“This is a video I really hoped I never would’ve had to make,” he said.

“Unfortunately the accident was quite severe and David ended up battling for survival against extensive burns. David lost that fight and passed on.

David Jardine, experienced aviation and former RAAF member, has died after a long battle for his life after crashing his light plane near Maitland in October, 2022. Pic: Facebook

“It’s just such a tragic accident.”

On October 17 last year Mr Jardine suffered burns to about 80 per cent of his body when his ‘Mooney’ aircraft crash landed at Luskintyre, north west of Maitland, on private property.

The Newcastle Aero Club member from Hinton had just departed Maitland airport when he got into trouble and a fire erupted in the cockpit of the plane, before he was able to land the plane just metres from a rural airstrip, away from homes.

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He was treated at the scene by paramedics before the Westpac rescue helicopter flew him to Royal North Shore’s specialist burns unit, but his fight for survival ended just a day before Christmas.

“It’s just such a horrible thing have happened to them (his family) at the time of the year it has, our hearts go out to all of them,” Mr Morgan said on the video.

“This industry is a very tight community, it is a brother and sisterhood, we all look out for one another and so when tragic accidents like this happen, we all come together and this is exactly what has happened around Dave’s family.”

Mr Morgan used the tragic announcement to also encourage safety in aviation, something Mr Jardine was a big advocate for.

The scene of the Luskintyre plane crash on October 17, 2022. Picture: NSW Ambulance

“Take care of yourselves, take care of your aircraft, do the right thing, aviation is fragile, your life is fragile, take as much care as you can,” he said.

“Dave behind the scenes was a really big advocate of AOPA Australia and each and every week, Dave and I would catch up by phone and talk about each and every issue going on across aviation.

“He was a great sounding board and someone who really believed not only in AOPA for its advocacy but he believed in the general aviation industry and its success.

“We owe it to Dave and we owe it to all the other lives in aviation that we have tragically lost, to make a success of aviation and we’re going to honour him and everybody else, and fight as hard as we possibly can so this industry has a bright vibrant, sustainable future and is safe for all of its participants.”

His funeral will be on Wednesday at Tocal Agricultural College, and a fly past will be performed during the service. His funeral will also be livestreamed.

Mr Jardine, affectionately know as “Jards”, was a member of the Royal Air Force as an air safety command program manager and senior inspector for explosive safety for more than 20 years and continued his service as a reservist.

He was also a longstanding member of the AOPA, was on the bush pilot advocacy panel, and was the director and principal of Soteria Solutions, an explosive ordnance operations company.

The Australian Transport Safety launched an investigation following the crash.